§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take measures to ensure that a higher proportion of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receive Reminyl; [71921]
(2) if he will take measures to increase the number of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receiving treatment; [71919]
(3) how many people within each health authority are suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease; how many and what percentage of these are being treated; and how many and what percentage of patients are receiving Reminyl. [71918]
§ Jacqui SmithA 1998 medical research council cognitive function and ageing study found that about 600,000 people in the UK have dementia and that up to 60 per cent. of dementia cases are Alzheimer's. Information about the numbers of people within each health authority with Alzheimer's, and about the type of treatment they are receiving, is not routinely collected.
Reminyl and other anti-dementia drugs like Aricept and Exelon are available to people with Alzheimer's since NICE recommended their availability in January 2001.
The national service framework (NSF) for older people aims to promote good mental health in older people and to treat and support people with dementia including those
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§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 18 July 2002]: The data requested are not routinely collected. Tackling hospital acquired infection (HAI) underpins the priorities in the NHS Plan and a number of initiatives are underway to reduce HAI.